Ajman fire: More than 300 evacuated
MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED AFTER A BLAZE BROKE OUT IN A 12-STOREY BUILDING IN AJMAN’S LIWARA 2 AREA
Residents of 130 flats provided accommodation after blaze broke out in a 12-storey building |
More than 300 residents in 130 flats were evacuated when a fire broke out in a 12-storey building in Ajman on Saturday.
The fire completely burnt one side of the residential building in the Liwara 2 area.
Though the fire was brought under control within two hours after it started at around 2pm, hundreds of residents had to leave their apartments.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Initial investigation showed that the fire started in an apartment on the sixth floor and spread towards the upper floors. At least nine apartments were completely burnt out and dozens of others were damaged after the police evacuated the residents.
No injuries were reported, however, three children who suffered from smoke inhalation were treated on the site.
Police cordoned off the area as debris from the burning building continued to fall.
Major General Jassem Mohammad Al Marzouqi, General Commander of Civil Defence in the Ministry of Interior and Brigadier Abdul Aziz Ali Al Shamsi, Director General of Ajman Civil Defence, rushed to the site to supervise the firefighting operation. The owner of building provided immediate assistance to the affected people and accommodated them in hotels until suitable housing is arranged for them.
Residents whose apartments were not affected were allowed to return after the electricity was restored at 11pm on Saturday. Ajman Police told Gulf News that it was too early to predict the cause of the fire.
“The site has been handed over to the forensic experts to determine the cause of the fire,” he said. A large number of Ajman Police officials rushed to the site to assist residents and regulate the traffic after roads were blocked.
Umm Mohammad, a resident of flat No 1004, told Gulf News that her son Mohammad alerted his family about the fire when he heard the alarm and saw thick smoke. “At first we thought it was a false alarm, but we ran out of the building when we saw smoke,” he said.
Smoke allergy
She said her family members were crying near the building when they told Civil Defence that their father was trapped in the building. The Civil Defence team managed to bring him out safely.
Umm Mohammad and her husband as well as their children Ghaitha, 11, Mohammad, 10, and Hamza were provided hotel accommodation. They could not attend the school because their books and uniforms were all burnt in the fire.
Ahmad and his wife Duaa, residents of flat No 905, returned to their apartment to retrieve a few important things. They along with their two children ages nine and five have taken shelter in a relative’s home.
“It’s impossible to stay in the flat or the building … the smell of smoke has covered the area and our children have allergy for smoke,” Ahmad said.
Hani, resident of flat No 1003, told Gulf News the building was on fire when he came back from his home country on Saturday.
“I still don’t know what happened to my apartment as I still did not go there,” he said.
Four fire stations from Ajman in addition to firefighters from Sharjah participated in the operation to put out the fire.
It’s impossible to stay in the flat or the building … the smell of smoke has covered the area and our children have allergy for smoke.”
Ahmad | Resident